Overshot floor rugs

Two finished rugs in the retirement house. 

 I took the weaving class to bring my weaving skills up to what was needed to finish project I started last year. It was a good thing it got put on hold when my meniscus began to act up and healing was required. I had no clue what I did not know.  The meniscus healed as much as it will heal and slowly I am able to weave.  I am up to 45 minute sessions at the loom.  

There was a rug begun using 2" wide strips of polyester knit started on the loom.  Too bouncy.  Too thick.  Too loose for long term wear.  That was finished off and sent to the garage for use.

The remaining 10 yards of Eisemann fabric was cut to 1" strips.  It was enough for 2 rugs.   Big enough to cover the hall.  Small enough to fit in the washer and clean on delicate. 

Of surprise is how heavy the rugs are and how drapey.  It must be the knit fabric used.  Most rag rugs are made from woven bottom weight cottons.  Naturally stiff.

Now comes the fun part.  Warped for Good posted a technique using overshot as a base for tapestry.  There is enough carpet warp on the loom for one or two more rugs.  Why not try this out in the same primitive currant pattern  painted on the floor cloth?  

The finished rugs on the loom had a lot of loft, so I decided to cut them from the loom and re tie the warp to the front.  I've done this many times before.

I was going to the retirement house in two days and wanted to take the finished rugs with me.  That included washing the rugs to see how they fulled out once the tension and sizing was gone.  It was hot and sticky and late.  What could possibly go wrong?  

On this heavy project a stick was brought out to start out the cut edge to add stability as I rolled on the rest of the finished rugs.  That is the plan....  Instead what happened is the stick was put on the conveniently located top edge of the beater bar while I started tugging the finished rugs from the roll bar in the front.  The bar jiggled and the stick fell between the beater bar and the heddles taking most of the warp in the reed with it.  The result is what the photo to the right, below shows.  

I warp front to back beginning with the reed off the loom.  It is put in the loom after it is sleighed.  Not possible now.  Now the front bar will need to be removed.  A short stool will be found and I will have to become one with the loom to re-sleigh the warp back through the reed.  Yeah, the goal in my life is to sit with my left arm draped over the beater bar fishing the next warp from the heddles while pulling it through with the hook in my right hand, a couple hundred times.

My Summer is full and I had hoped to sneak in a half hour here or there to try the tapestry technique.  It looks like that will be put off for cooler weather.